Marchfest - NZ's Big Little Craft Beer Festival!

Marchfest is a unique craft beer and music festival held in Nelson, at the top of the South Island.

The Nelson region is New Zealand’s sole hop growing area – and has more craft breweries per head of the population than anywhere else in the country. Unlike ordinary beer festivals, all the beers available at Marchfest have been specially commissioned for the event and have never previously been tasted by the public.

Every year up to 15 craft breweries produce a new beer for the event. These beers all make their world debut at Marchfest.

Unlike other beer festivals, Marchfest is not just about beer. It’s also about local wines, ciders and juices, regional cuisine - including a beer and food matching dinner! As well as its ‘event genre mash-up’ insistence on being a craft beer festival, an indie/world music gig, a hops showcase, an educational forum for home/wannabe brewers - it’s a winning formula!

Great live music is always a big feature of Marchfest and 2024 will be no exception.

Welcome to Marchfest, Nelson and New Zealand's little big craft beer festival - a celebration of music, food, fun and of course, proper beer.